W H A T N E X T?
This study will help to understand what can be expected to happen in the future
according to Bible Prophecy
Scriptures: Revelation 12:17
16:12-14
17:14
19:11-16
Daniel 11:40-45
These scriptures passages are end time prophecies in need of our close attention.
Mankind’s current concern and burning question:
WHAT WILL BE NEXT?
This question is based on Luke 21:26 “Men’s heart failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.
Moffatt translates this as follows: Men swooning with panic and foreboding of what is to befall the universe.
After WW I, THE WAR TO END ALL WARS, WW II, Korean/Vietnam wars,
cold war, fall of Berlin wall, collapse of Soviet Empire, Desert-Gulf war, 9/11 in
2001,Bali bombing 2002, Irac war, WHAT NEXT? is the question in the mind
of many living on planet earth.
We need not be among that class of people who fear the future. To those who are believers the apostle Paul writes in 1Thess.5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
People who read and believe the scriptures should have a clear picture of what will follow next and what can be expected. ‘
Nebuchadnezzar, the disciples, the early church were all
anxious about the future. WE ARE NOT ANY DIFFERENT
regarding our anxiety for the future..
Daniel at Susan and John on the Isle of Patmos have given a clear worldview of
‘What will be next’?
From these two men of God we learn:
1. Babylon as a Lion
followed by
2. Medo/Persia as a Bear
followed by
3. Greece as a Leopard
followed by a division into four parts.
followed by
4. Rome secular (pagan) being next as an unnamed beast
divided by ten tribes into current Europe
followed by
5. Rome ecclesiastical (papal) in 538AD as a little horn, 1st beast in Rev.13
followed by
6. Papal Rome receiving a deadly wound in 1798AD from the French revolution, as symbolized by the beast of Rev.11:7, 8 which developed into the period of world wide communism, the teachings of Marx/Lenin.
7. To be followed by the 2nd beast, lamb-like of Rev.13:11-18, also mentioned
as the false prophet and in NASB it is called the lieutenant 16:13 (13:11-18)
and which became the only world super power after the demise of the Soviet
Union in 1989AD, and is the USA.
“The false prophet is probably another name for the 2nd beast.”
Evang.Com.p.1221
From point 1-6 all is history. Point 7 is being played out currently under the
world wide influence of the super power of the USA.( Go to Revelation section and study The Third Angel Message for more information re this matter of the second beast of Revelation 13).
8. Then the time will come for the resurrected beast of Rev.17 who’s deadly
wound was healed, was and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the
seven and goeth into perdition, vs.11.
Matthew Henry and others spoke/wrote about this in the late 17th and early 18th
Century as follows:
“Some think that a little before the fall of Anti-Christ the
Popish pretence of power to work miracles will be revived
and will very much amuse and deceive the world”. Vol.VI-1171
Q. Why illustrated as beasts
A.“The kingdoms of the world have ravenous beasts as their ensign.
the heavenly kingdom a Lamb.” 4BC1171
Scenario number 8 may well be classified to answer the question,
WHAT NEXT?
To study this in detail go to Revelation section of this website and read about Rev. .17
WHO IS THE ULTIMATE LOOSER/WINNER IN THE CONQUEST?
Rev.17:14 has the answer regarding losers and winners
The above mentioned scripture passages do inform us what will happen.
According to Rev.12:17 the dragon, Satan (12:9) will go out in full war against the
remnant of her seed who are faithful Christians, they believe in Jesus and are keeping
the commandments of God. They are the people who do not believe that the law of God is nailed to the cross and they are not antinomians. They believe in righteousness by faith which bears the fruit of obedience to God’s commandments.
This final war is under inspiration of three evil spirits gathering them together against God. Rev.16:14. The rulers of the world will be falsely directed in an attempt to unify the world in a so-called New World Order. Rev.17:12-14 gives us the prophetic picture of a unified world coming up in war against the Lamb, Jesus Christ The resurrected beast, healed from a deadly wound, Rev.13:3, is in charge.
The end of this war is clear. The attackers will loose, Rev.17:14, and their leader, the beast, which wound was healed, will come to an end without any helper, see Dan.11:40-45 in particular last part of vs.45 (see study in Daniel section of Dan.11:40-45)
This final war will be disturbed by the glorious appearing of Christ, Dan.12:1, 2 Rev.19:11-16.
The so-called united world, symbolically pictured as the Euphrates, will dry up, Rev.16:12. Christ and His armies (Rev.19:14) as the kings of the East will appear.
The Evang.Com. writes as follows re this point: John synthesized this background
to symbolize the place where the last great battle between good and evil would be fought. He returns to this theme in a triumphant note in Rev.19:11-12 (ib. p.1221)
Armageddon is a symbolical place not a literal geographical site of the last war.
Ellen G.White in her book THE GREAT CONTROVERSY p. 636 describes this drying up of the Euphrates as that the angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. They see what is taking place in the heavens, the glorious appearing of Christ and His armies and that arrests them, brings them to a sudden halt.
Old Babylon was situated along the shores of the river Euphrates. Modern day, apocalyptic Babylon also sits upon many waters, Rev.17:1 the Euphrates of Rev.16:12
These waters are peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues. Rev.17:15.
Modern day, apocalyptic Babylon has sway over the nations of the world. Remember what caused, and under whose influence the fall of the Soviet Union took place in 1989. It was clearly shown on the front page of Time magazine of that time, the so-called Holy Alliance, President Reagan and Pope John Paul II
In the movements of the nations in this day and age we see clear forebodings of this world “unity” to happen in the future and answering the question What Next?
The current globalization, and the USA being the only world super power and trying hard to bring the world under its influence is pointing in the direction of the fulfillment of the above mentioned prophetic scenario. Eventually it will unfold in the final war between good and evil, the war of Rev.12:17 and 17:14 against the Lamb and its true followers. But this war will be brought to a standstill by the glorious appearing of Christ in victory.
Is our focus on the losers or the Winner?
Revelation book of the Lamb, 29 times, beast only 9 times.
Lamb was the ensign in the Exodus movement Exod.12, in Isa.53 prophetically and in the Sanctuary typically.
Lev.3:7 transfer of sin unto a lamb
4:32 sin offering of a lamb
5:6, trespass offering of a lamb
In the lamb we see the coming of the Messiah, the Lamb of God, John 1:29.
What do we know about the Lamb through John’s Revelation?
1. Lamb in the heavenly throne scene of Rev.5:6
The lamb is seen as slain, from the foundation of the world. Rev.13:8
Through the Lamb Israel became free from Egypt.
We experience redemption and salvation, Eph.1:7.
We have a vicarious atoning sacrifice, forgiveness, reconciliation
We have justification and sanctification and ultimately glorification through
faith and by grace of Christ the LambEph.2:8; Acts 26:18
2. The Lamb is the object of praise and worship
Rev.5:8, 12, 13 all praising the Lamb, elders, angels
7:9, 10, 14 great multitudes before the Lamb
15:3 last day people who gained the victory
3. The Lamb is the source of complete victory
Rev.12:11 by the blood of the Lamb
14:1 standing with the Lamb
15:2, 3 Song of victory of the Lamb
4. The Lamb is the divine key-holder
Rev.5:5-9 unseals the sealed book
6:1 the Lamb opens and unseals
3:7 nobody can shut or open
If you have a problem, to be unsealed, take it to the Lamb.
5. The Lamb will gain the victory in the battle against the lamb-like beast and its
cohorts
Rev.17:14 the one-minded people making war with the Lamb
16:13, 14 Battle of the great day of God.
19::19 Last day false trio in a war against the divine horse-rider
But with the Lamb will be the called, the chosen and the faithful
6. The Lamb enters a marriage ceremony, joining up with His city
Rev.19:7, 9
21:2
But there will be an investigation before the marriage takes place,
Matthew 22:11, 12
We must be seen to wear the prescribed wedding garment.
7. The Lamb also has a book, called the book of life
Rev.3:5 22:19
13:8 7x book of life in Revelation
20:12, 15 Phil.4:3
21:27 Luke 10:20
The BIG question is what have we chosen?
Is this Lamb slain for us, you and me, do we praise and worship the Lamb?
Will we be the marriage guests in the Lamb’s bride, New Jerusalem?
Are we the called ones, the chosen and becoming the faithful?
Do we rejoice that our names are written in the book of life of the Lamb?
Q. How do we know?
A. By being re-born, otherwise we will not see the Kingdom of God, John.3:3
We must have become a heavenly citizen.
Pastor Jan.T.Knopper
January 2008
Edited August 2010
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